Speechless (1994)

12% of critics liked it
(26 reviews)
34% of users liked it
(4,334 ratings)

A mix of political satire and a modern take on 1930's-style screwball comedy, this romance from director Ron Underwood was assumed by many to be based on the real-life relationship between liberal political consultant James Carville and conservative commentator Mary Matalin. Michael Keaton stars as… More A mix of political satire and a modern take on 1930's-style screwball comedy, this romance from director Ron Underwood was assumed by many to be based on the real-life relationship between liberal political consultant James Carville and conservative commentator Mary Matalin. Michael Keaton stars as Kevin, an insomniac who meets Julia (Geena Davis) in a store late one night as they haggle over the last bottle of sleeping pills. After spending a romantic evening together, Kevin and Julia each discover to their chagrin that the other is a rival speechwriter in a nasty New Mexico senatorial campaign. As the senate race heats up, the bickering pair tries to keep the relationship alive, but then Julia's ex-fiance Baghdad Bob Freed (Christopher Reeve), a network news foreign correspondent, shows up with the intention of renewing their relationship. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 39 min.
Directed By: Ron Underwood
Genres: Comedy, Romance

In Theaters: Dec 16, 1994 Wide
On DVD: Dec 26, 2001
Studio: MGM Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Brian Lowry, Variety
Never achieves the madcap hilarity of the '40s romantic comedies it seeks to emulate, and some of the dramatic moments feel a bit forced.
Janet Maslin, New York Times
Ron Underwood, the director of City Slickers, once again compromises appealing actors and an entertaining premise with a needless overlay of mush.
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
Speechless is overplotted and underwritten. Every situation is straight out of stock, with no room for variation or originality.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
The movie's a campaign disaster from the get-go, and no amount of damage control (including MGM's extensive publicity) can hide it.
Rita Kempley, Washington Post
Director Ron Underwood demonstrated a knack for comedy in City Slickers, but when it comes to love scenes ... Keaton and Davis might as well be stampeding cows.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The level of humor is dialed safely down to the Sitcom setting, which limits what can happen, and how much we can care about it.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Utterly devoid of subtlety and grace, Speechless is a desperate, thrown-together hodgepodge that tries to glide by on the supposedly surefire chemistry of the pairing of Davis and Keaton.
, Film4
The rivalry never sparks, the pace flags and it seems pointless to enter donkeys in a race designed for thoroughbreds.
Derek Adams, Time Out
Mugging to an unfunny script, Keaton and Davis are no Tracy and Hepburn, and the funereal pace doesn't help.
Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)
Toothless as political satire and bland as romantic comedy.
Scott Renshaw, rec.arts.movies.reviews
A limp, poorly structured would-be romantic comedy.
Marjorie Baumgarten, Austin Chronicle
It comes down to the charms of Keaton and Davis in the end. You like these characters and root for them to score.
Chris Hicks, Deseret News, Salt Lake City
This is intelligent romantic comedy of the kind we get all too seldom these days, and the plot is something Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn would have loved in their prime.
Clint Morris, Moviehole
Great Cast - pity nothing happens in it.
Steve Rhodes, Internet Reviews
The movie starts slow but has two or three good laughs. After that it is downhill all the way.

Read all 15 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

moon r

Remember those romantic comedies of old where the plots for the most part were usually entirely dispensible because all that really mattered was the chemistry between the two leads? Well this one reaches for just that high aspiration ...
Steve K

Cute movie with likable performances by the leads.
Sunil J

Watchable. The story is pretty blah depite it's potential. It could have been something really clever but there was very little as far as romance.
Moe E

I caught Speechless early the other evening and found it to be a nice way to wind down from the rigors of the workday. Michael Keeton and Geena Davis had good chemistry together in this light, romantic comedy set in the midst of a political campaign. Kept me entertained for a while,… More
I caught Speechless early the other evening and found it to be a nice way to wind down from the rigors of the workday. Michael Keeton and Geena Davis had good chemistry together in this light, romantic comedy set in the midst of a political campaign. Kept me entertained for a while, though the ending was a bit too cheesy...

Cast

            Michael Keaton as Kevin

            Geena Davis as Julia

            Christopher Reeve as Freed

            Bonnie Bedelia as Nanette

            Ernie Hudson as Ventura

            Charles Martin Smith as Kratz

            Gailard Sartain as Cutler

            Mitchell Ryan as Wannamaker

            Ray Baker as Garvin

            Brad Blaisdell as Bartender

            Mickey Cottrell as Debate Moderator

            Frank di Elsi as Kip

            Willie Garson as Dick

            Tony Genaro as Truck Driver

            Mary Pat Gleason as Desk Clerk

            Marques Johnson as Hartford

            Rob La Belle as Security Guard

            Paul Lazar as Harry

            Peter Mackenzie as Andy

            Richard McGonagle as Dignitary

            Loyda Ramos as Maid

            Robin Pearson Rose as Teacher

            Steven Wright as Eddie

            Harry Shearer as Chuck

            Richard Poe as Tom

            Steve Gonzales as Jim Rodriguez

            Jodi Carlisle
            
            Mitch Ryan
            
            Paul Lazarus
            
See full cast

Speechless (1994)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

moon r

Steve K

Sunil J

Moe E

Cast

Trailers & Clips

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